Starsmirk

This lion seems to be rather busy, having not even noticed a guest in the pridelands prior to your current appearance. He comes to this realization with a slightly startled noise- having only just spotted you out of the corner of his good eye- but the only expression to throw itself on him is one of acceptance and welcoming. He's smiling, even.
"The sun on this day has just become a touch brighter," he remarks, getting to his paws, so that he might greet you properly. It's a short little walk over from where he sat to where you stand, now, and he takes his time to flick leaf debris and pebbles out of his way with each step. This place obviously doesn't get much foot-traffic.
"It's not often guests stay long enough to visit this edge of the territory. The good King has put me in charge of sorting through... ah, his... 'records'." He turns his head slightly to gesture with his chin at a pile of strange body parts and unidentifiable remains. "...Many strange creatures have made their home amongst our pride-members. So many, in fact, that... ah, it gets hard to truly keep track...."
As he says this, a brindled mngwa steps into the clearing, only /just/ noticeable from the shadows, and blinks at the two of you, rather expectantly.
"But the company is certainly something," he murmurs, offering a very slow, affectionate blink to the strange one. "But... oh, I find little time to do anything BUT sort the leftover evidence of territory-goers... their kills, their remains, their gifts. Everything must be coupled with an identifier, so that we know just /who/ is still here, and /who/ has gone. I've found myself to be the only lion willing to put up with this work. Therefore, the pile never seems to get sm-"

He was interrupted.
"Perhaps that is because you are a pushover." The peculiar mngwa's gritty, guttural voice jested. "You may not be of the King's blood, but you are far more eligible to the pleasant jobs than the younger ones are. And perhaps, once you are older, you will TELL THEM this."

A slightly crooked smile touched the lion's lips. "Perhaps. Once I am older." He took a long breath, shoulders rising, before letting it all out in a massive sigh. "...But for now, I find it much easier to put up with /you/ than the others. And this, if I'm not mistaken... is surely saying something."

"Ah," the mngwa rumbled, tilting its head from one side to the other. A chortle rattled their throat. "Perhaps you should tell them that as well."